Stacking device



3 Sh'eet's-Sheve; 1

E. N. NECKEL March 8, 1938.

STACKING DEVICE Original Filed Nov, 27, 1956 March 8, 1938. E N NECKELV 2,110,453

` STACKING DEVICE Original Filed Nov. 27, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m .UE

INVENTOR EDMUND .,Ii Qm, m Oh, J www una nos.

March 8, 1938. E. AN. NECKEL 2,110,453

' STACKING DEVICE Original Filed Nov. 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4e 321 73 5? Y 3? ,44 77 LT La] x I INVENToR g 41e EDMUND N. NECKEL. F|G.9 68g .f7 BY Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNETED STATES PATENT CFFICE STACKING DEVICE Original application November 27, 1936, Serial 113,046. Divided and this application March l0, 1937, Serial No. 130,122

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in stacking apparatus and more particularly to a device adapted for stacking folded towels, pillowcases and the like.

This application is a division of my application for improvements in folding machines, Serial No. 113,046, led November 27, 1935,

My invention relates to improvements in a type of stacking device adapted to place articles fed thereto in position at the bottom of a stack of said articles and wherein actuation of the stacking mechanism is controlled by the presence of an article in the machine in position to be stacked. My improved device includes a plurality of stops for positioning articles in different positions relative to the stacked articles and a counting device operative to withdraw one of the stop members after a predetermined number of articles has been stacked by the control of the stop member whereupon the next article entering the device is stacked in a different relationship in the pile of stacked articles, thus marking off the stacked pile in numbered batches.-

My invention includes the structural features disclosed in the accompanying drawings and described in the specification and the essential features thereof will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a side elevation of a combined folding 30 stacking device in position to receive folded articles from the folding machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the stacking device, taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;`

device with portions of the drive mechanism shown in section, this view being taken from the side opposite that shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the stacking de- ,40 vice;

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental sectional View of one of the mercury switches and associated parts, taken on the line S--S of Fig. 4;

Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views taken along lines and 3 8, respectively, of Fig. 3; while Fig. 9 is a diagram of the wiring circuit.

My stacking device is adapted to various uses but is of particular use in the laundry art for stacking folded towels, pillowcases and the like. I have therefore shown my stacking device in Fig. 1 in combination with a folding machine indicated generally at l0. Details of this foldand stacking apparatus showing my improved Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the stacking ing machine will be found in the parent application referred to above. n

Articles to be stacked are delivered to the stacking device by the conveyor Il or in any other suitable manner. Belts I2 carry the article to be stacked to proper position over the stacking plate I3. This plate has longitudinally extending slotted openings lil to accommodate the belts l2. The belts pass over rollers I5 on shaft I6 and over rollers l? rigid with shaft i8. A suitable drive is arranged for shaft I8 and in the embodiment shown a driven sprocket i9 on shaft 20 of the folding mechanism is connected by drive chain 2l to sprocket 22 on shaft 23. Another sprocket 24 on this shaft is connected by drive chain 25 to sprocket 2li on shaft i8. The shafts I6 and i8 are suitably journalled in brackets 2l which are secured to the main supporting bracket 28. The stacker plate E3 is provided with a downwardly extending stem 29 which passes through a suitable bore in bracket 28. Vertical movement of the stacker plate is caused by roller 29a on stem 29 engaging the arm 30a of a lever 30 which is pivotally mounted on the stub shaft 3l and operated in a manner hereinafter described. Rod 32 on plate i3 also passes through a suitable bore in the supporting bracket for the purpose of guiding the vertical movement of the stacker plate. f

The stacker plate is normally biased in its lowermost position by a spring 33 secured between the rod 34 connected with the frame and rod 35 which is carried by the stem 29. The means for supporting the pile of stacked articles comprises wing plates 36 which are pivotally mounted on the brackets 2l at 36a. These wing plates have fingers 36h which lie above and staggered between fingers l3a of the stacker plate so that when the stacker plate is raised the ngers i3d may pass between the lingers 36h without engaging the same.

In the operation of the stacker mechanism an article is carried by belts l2 over the stacker plate i3 which is lifted when the article is in proper position, whereupon the upper surface of the lifted article engages the fingers 36h and rotates the wing plates until the article is passed above the iingers 36h, whereupon the stacker plate descends and the Wing plates return to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 under the bias of springs 31 whereupon the article remains above the fingers 3612. The stack of piled articles is guided by the rods 38.

The actuating mechanism for operating the stacker plate is controlled by a mercury switch 39 which is located at the far end of the stacking machine. This switch is rotatably mounted in a stop member 40 and carries suitable electric contacts normally in circuit breaking position as shown in full lines in Fig. 6, but rotatable to complete the circuitwhen the switch is moved to the dot-dash position of Fig. 6, which happens whenever an article moves into the stacking machine and against the stop member 40. The

switch has an-arm 39a which is engageable byVK an article moving against it. This movement of switch 39 to the dot-dash position of Fig. 6 completes a circuit as shown in Fig. 9 from a power supply line 4| through lines 42 and 43, switch 39 and lines 44 and 45 to solenoid coil 46 and thence back through line 41 to power line 48.

'I'he operating mechanism connected with the solenoid 46 is best seen in Figs. 3, 7 and 8. Shaft 23 drives a bevel gear 49 which meshes with bevel gear 50 on shaft 5|. This is a short shaft suitably journalled in the frame and carrying a clutch lmember 52 which is freely rotatable thereon. A

coacting clutchl member 53 is mounted on shaft 5| for rotation therewith but splined thereto for L movement axially therealong. The mutually facing surfaces of clutch members 52 and 53 are supplied with serrated teeth as shown in Fig. 8. Clutch member 53 is oscillated by means of a clutch yoke 54 pivoted at 55 and having a'downwardly extending arm' 54a which in turn has a pin and slot connection with a link 56 which in turn is connected by bellcrank 51 and link 58 with solenoid 46. A spring 59 engages between a collar on link 56 `and the `biiurcated lower end of branch 54a so as to take up the slack in the parts. A spring 6|)` normally biases the clutch members apart as shown in Fig. 2.

A one-revolution'clutch arrangement is provided as shown in Figs. 3 and 'l so as to cause one rotation of clutch member 52 each time solenoid 46 yis-energized. Clutch member 52 is integral with disk 52a. In the periphery of this disk is a `notch 6| into which is adapted to enter a roller 62 which is secured to the branch 54a ofv the ation of roller 64 once during each revolution of the disk.

The operation of that part of the stacker mechanism thus far described is as follows: An article entering the stacker travels along the belts I2 until it engages the arm 39a of the mercury switch and further travel of the article moves this switchto the dot-dash position of Fig. 6 when the article strikes the stop v4|l. As previously described this actuates solenoid 46 which causes upward movement of link 58, counter-r clockwise movement of bell crank 51 (see Fig. 3), counterclockwise movement of clutch yoke 54 about its pivotal point which moves clutch member 53 into engagement with clutchkmember 52. Shaft 5| through the engaged clutch then drives disk 52a which isv free to rotate as the oscilla- V`tion of yoke 54 has already withdrawn the roller l 62 from the notch 6|. 'Ihe solenoid 46 does not remain energized throughout the rotation of disk 52a `but the engagement of roller 62 withv the outer periphery of therdisk holds the clutch en- `the pile in predetermined numbers.

gaged for one revolution. When cam' 65 engages roller 64 link 63 is moved downwardly, thus oscillating the lever 30 and causing upward movement of stem 29 and stacker plate I3. After cam 65 passes roller 64 the spring 33 returns the stacker plate to its lowermost position.

Means is provided for counting the articles stacked and for varying the arrangement of the stacked pile of articles in a manner to mark off To this end a second stop 66 is arranged in the path of movement of an incoming article beyond the stop 40 and mechanism is providedwhereby after a certain number of articles have been stacked in line with the stop member 40 this stop is moved out of position and the next article is placedin a slightly extended position in line with the stop 66.

' The following article is again stacked in line with stop 40 so that a pile is formed with a projecting article at regular spaced intervals.

The stop member Y4|) is mounted on a support 61 which in turn is slidably mounted on vertical pins 68 which are carried by the brackets 21. The member 61 is normally supported in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 by the engagement of arm 69a of lever 69 beneath the shoulder 61a of member 61. This lever is pivotally mounted on the frame at and is held in the position illustrated in Figs. 3 vand 4 by the spring 69C. The arm 69b of lever 69 is intermittently operated in accordance with a `counting device. This counting device comprises a lever 1| pivotally mounted on the frame at 12 and carrying at one end a roller 13 adapted to be engaged by a projecting portion v36e of `the stacker wing plate 36 at each oscillation thereof. The opposite arm of lever 1| is connected by a link 14 with a ratchet lever carrying the ratchet pawl 15a. A ratchet wheel 16 is rotatably mounted on the frame and carries on its periphery teeth adapted to coact with the pawl 15a. A detent 11 prevents retrograde movement of the wheel 16. A spring 18 holds the roller 13 in engagement with the projection 36e of the wing plate. On the wheel 16 is a'cam 16a which is adapted to engage the arm 69h upon suicient rotation of wheel 16 and thereby to cause movement of the arm 69a out of engagement with the shoulder 61a so as to permit member 61 and stop 40 to drop downwardly on the pins 68 so as to remove the stop member from the path of the article passing through the stacker. yThe cam 16a is of such dimensions and so arranged that upon the movement of one tooth on the wheel 16, the cam passes out of engage-` mentwith the armv69b of the lever 69 so that the arm 69a is held out of supporting relation with respect to the shoulder 61a only during that rotation of wheel 16 which corresponds to one tooth. Upon the following actuation of the stacker plate the projecting arm 35 engages a portion 61b of the stop support member and returns the stop member 40 to its uppermost position where it is again held.

The second stop member 66 above referred to is similar to stop member 48 and supports a mercury switch 19 in all respects similar to 39 n and having a trip arm 19a adapted to be engaged by a `moving article and rotated in a.

manner analogous to that described in connection with Fig. 6. This mercury switch 19 is connected in parallel with 39 as indicated yin l the wiring diagram of Fig. 9 and connected by suitable wires 8|! and 8|. The operation of the last describedmechanism is as follows: At each operation of the stacker p1ate,`the wing plates 36 are oscillated and the projection 36o contacting roller 13 operates the paWl 15a to move the ratchet Wheel 'I6 the distance of one tooth. Upon rotation of this Wheel corresponding to a predetermined number of teeth, the cam 16a actuates lever 69 out of supporting position below support member 6l for the stop 4B. The next article moving through the stacker strikes the trip arm 19a and rotates mercury svtch 79 until the article strikes the stop plate 66. This completes a circuit from line 4| through lines 42 and 3G, switch 19 and lines 8l and 45 to solenoid 45 which is thus energized, the circuit being completed through lines 47 and 48. The stacking mechanism is then actuated in exactly the same manner as previously described. After this one article has been moved into the stack in projecting position, the stop member il is returned to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and the operation of the stacker mechanism goes on as before.

What I claim is:

1. A stacking device comprising means for feeding articles successively to the bottom of a stack, two stops for positioning articles in different relationship to said stack, means responsive to the presence of an article in place against either stop for causing actuation of said feeding means, and

means connecting said feeding means and one of said stops and controlled by operation of said feeding means a predetermined number of times for rendering said one of said stops ineffective and for rendering the other of said stops effective.

2. In a stacking device, a stacker plate, means for feeding articles along a substantially horizontal path to position over said stacker plate, means for moving said stacker plate substantially vertically to position articles at the bottom of a stack, two stop members spaced along said path and normally in article engaging position, the nearer of said stop members being removable from said position, means sensitive to the presence of an article against either of said stop members for causing actuation of said stacker plate moving means, and means connecting said moving means and said nearer stop member and controlled by operation of said moving means a predetermined number of times for causing removal of the nearer of said stop members from said path, whereby the next article entering said device Will move to the farther of said stop members and thereafter cause actuation of said stacker plate moving means.

EDMUND N. NECKEL. 

